DARREN Fletcher believes United's young Turks can see the club into the Champions League winter break as group winners.

DARREN Fletcher believes United's young Turks can see the club into the Champions League winter break as group winners.

The 20-year-old Scot is part of a United shadow squad aiming to impress boss Sir Alex Ferguson with victory at Fenerbahce.

Fletcher is confident the fringe players who have steered the Reds to a Carling Cup semi-final date with Chelsea can show similar form in Europe.

United have already qualified for the next stage, but the result in Istanbul will influence whether they finish first or second in Group D.

"We are a young team and we are looking for a good performance to try and top the group," Fletcher said.

"You can never really tell whether finishing first or second is an advantage until you find out who you get in the next round.

"Even if we win the group we could still end up playing Barcelona or Real Madrid, which would be pretty tough. But I don't see why we shouldn't go all the way ourselves."

Hostile

Ferguson is backing his men to handle the potentially hostile atmosphere in the Turkish capital, where the home team will want to avenge United's 6-2 win in their Old Trafford meeting two months ago - the night Wayne Rooney marked his Reds debut with a sensational hat-trick.

Fenerbahce can't qualify for the knockout stages and have already assured themselves of a UEFA Cup place, but Ferguson expects a tough encounter.

"I am looking for a continuation of what they have done so far," the Reds boss said of his young guns. They haven't lost a goal together in the Carling Cup and have beaten Crewe, Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

"Tonight is a bigger challenge because we are away from home in a European tie but there is no pressure on them. We have achieved what we set out to do and that was to qualify. But I am expecting them to do well. They have a different passion in Turkey. This is an event. They will get in the stadium early and it is good for the young lads to experience that kind of an atmosphere.

"If they make a mistake they will know all about it because the crowd noise decibels will go up by 10. So keeping hold of the ball will mean a lot to them."